Mission Bay, by virtue of late-season wins over Torrey Pines and Foothills Christian, emerged as the No. 1 team in the final Union-Tribune poll.
The Buccaneers defeated favored Torrey Pines on the Falcons’Â floor, 64-62, in the semifinals of the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs and then beat Foothills Christian, 52-45, in the finals after splitting with the Knights during the season, winning, 72-56. and losing in overtime, 61-58.
Foothills, dealing with the drama of star Taeschon Cherry’s, expulsion from the school days before the game with Mission Bay, dropped to third, behind Torrey Pines.
The Bucs, who had dropped out of the Cal-Hi Sports top 20 after a 54-51, regular-season-ending decision to La Jolla, are back in at number 18. Torrey Pines is 19th. Mount Miguel girls are 18th.
Union-Tribune Boys’ final poll Monday, March 5:
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Last Poll |
| 1 | Mission Bay (12) | 27-5 | 120 | 3 |
| 2 | Torrey Pines | 28-3 | 102 | 2 |
| 3 | Foothills Christian | 26-6 | 96 | 1 |
| 4 | Mater Dei | 24-7 | 80 | 4 |
| 5 | Vista | 23-8 | 68 | 6 |
| 6 | St. Augustine | 18-7 | 46 | 7 |
| 7 | Mouht Miguel | 30-4 | 40 | 9 |
| 8 | San Marcos | 23-5 | 35 | 5 |
| 9 | Santa Fe Christian | 20-11 | 25 | NR |
| 10 | La Jolla Country Day | 21-10 | 21 | 8 |
NR–Not ranked.
Others receiving votes: Francis Parker (14-12, 9 points), El Camino (18-13, 4), Christian (21-9, 2), San Diego (22-7, 2).
Poll participants: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelancer; Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions; Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Prep Talent Evaluator; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
